Safety

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http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art.../504200309/1066

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Strong safety an area of need

Lewis hints that Georgia's Thomas Davis could be on Bengals' radar

By Mark Curnutte

Enquirer staff writer

Marvin Lewis has exonerated his tackles from media charges that they were primarily responsible for the Bengals' leaky run defense in 2004.

The Bengals' coach instead pointed at unnamed perimeter defenders who were in position but missed tackles on long runs - whether it be defensive backs or linebackers.

Rogers Beckett, Kevin Kaesviharn, Madieu Williams and Kim Herring shared starts at strong safety last season.

The position is the last line of run defense. It's a position the Bengals might address with their first pick - No. 17 - Saturday in the NFL draft.

At 230 pounds, Georgia's Thomas Davis, a hard-hitting run-stopper, is the top-rated strong safety available.

"I think he's a fine prospect," Lewis said of Davis Tuesday in a pre-draft news conference.

Reluctant to reveal the Bengals' draft strategy, Lewis did say, when asked, that Davis could both play the run and cover receivers in the pass game.

"You're always going to have to do that," Lewis said of a dual role. "Or you're going to have to sub. If you sub, then the offense dictates to you."

The AFC North is loaded with big, physical running backs: Baltimore's Jamal Lewis, Pittsburgh's Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley, and Cleveland's newly acquired Reuben Droughns.

"You have to put your football team together to defend the three football teams you're going to play six times a year," Lewis said of divisional rivals. "If you don't do that, you're going to be in trouble."

In six games against AFC North teams in 2004, the Bengals allowed 162.8 yards rushing a game. They were 2-4. In 10 games against non-division foes (6-4), they allowed an average of 108.5 yards rushing.